Some Thoughts on Speed Limits - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jcyuhn · #16 08-07-2013, 12:00 PM

Texas actually seems to be reasonable about limits. Much of our rural interstates are signed at 80MPH, and the remainder is mostly 75 outside cities. Secondary highways are 70 or 75 MPH. Frankly, our limits on secondary highways are much higher than European "A" roads.

And of course we have a new toll road near Austin with an 85MPH limit. Prior to opening it last fall, the state let John Hennessey run some of his cars through to toll readers at top speed. Makes for an interesting video: Hennessey ZL1 Camaro Runs 203.9 MPH on Texas Toll Road - YouTube There are definitely some things I like about this state...

JB3 · #17 08-07-2013, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnumPI

People will drive at whatever speed they feel is most comfortable regardless of the arbitrary number on the sign. The difference is, without the asinine signage, busybody grandmas and know-it-alls in their Prii won't have any excuse to hover the left lane, and GTFO of the way. And of course road theft revenues decrease, and highway pigs can go find real jobs. Or rather, find that there are no real jobs left.

I see about equal highway cops at accidents and obstructions than pulling people over, so maybe they can just concentrate on the accidents I guess in your ideal world, since it stands to reason that with no signage, grandmas will drive slower, and speed demons will drive faster IMO.

The issue is training, we have poor driver training in this country when it comes to awareness of your surroundings, and awareness of other cars and where you should be when cruising.

Fastlane squatters are infuriating, I agree

Jim B. · #18 08-07-2013, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagnumPI

People will drive at whatever speed they feel is most comfortable regardless of the arbitrary number on the sign. The difference is, without the asinine signage, busybody grandmas and know-it-alls in their Prii won't have any excuse to hover the left lane, and GTFO of the way. And of course road theft revenues decrease, and highway pigs can go find real jobs. Or rather, find that there are no real jobs left.

There's always THIS:

Michigan police buy doughnut shop

JB3 · #19 08-07-2013, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

Texas actually seems to be reasonable about limits. Much of our rural interstates are signed at 80MPH, and the remainder is mostly 75 outside cities. Secondary highways are 70 or 75 MPH. Frankly, our limits on secondary highways are much higher than European "A" roads.

And of course we have a new toll road near Austin with an 85MPH limit. Prior to opening it last fall, the state let John Hennessey run some of his cars through to toll readers at top speed. Makes for an interesting video: Hennessey ZL1 Camaro Runs 203.9 MPH on Texas Toll Road - YouTube There are definitely some things I like about this state...

I love the passing of the cop late in the video! what a great sound, thanks for posting this

MTI · #20 08-07-2013, 12:19 PM

Fix the roads first, educate drivers better and then discuss speed limits.

spdrun · #21 08-07-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Fix the roads first, educate drivers better and then discuss speed limits.

This country is overpopulated as it is

Mölyapina · #22 08-07-2013, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

whenever I cross upstate NY, im speeding by 10-15mph and im so in tune with the surroundings and police scanning activity, that i reach a new level of driving focus, and i still occasionally get a ticket.

You need a co-pilot

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobK

sounds like a good time to snap a picture with your phone of the woman, the sign and the cop and send it to your local paper. Make sure the cop is recognizable.

But you can't photograph the cops! Remember?

aklim · #23 08-07-2013, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Fix the roads first, educate drivers better and then discuss speed limits.

Absolutely true. I can't understand why people like to compare here with there and say "If he can, why can't I?" but somehow don't want to compare apples with apples. Many of the Milwaukee roads, even if I could go legally above speed limit, I wouldn't unless driving a rental or somebody's old POS. Even calling them "roads" in an exaggeration for some of them.

aklim · #24 08-07-2013, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

This country is overpopulated as it is

I'm always for anyone who wants to check out. If I am sure they will go thru with it, I will supply a rope. Worst case scenario, they break a tree limb. On the road, they might hit me.

You volunteering to be part of the solution to the problem you stated or are you trying to "volunteer" someone else?

Brian Carlton · #25 08-07-2013, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

My biggest beef is the lack of enforcement of LAW. If we have a law, it should be enforced. Either that or change the law. But this willy-nilly, random enforcement hurts all of us. I know we can be targeted for doing exactly the same as even the police do in their routine driving. We are supposed to have equal treatment under the law, but we don't. All animals are equal; some animals are more equal than others.
It should not be so.

Absolutely correct.

Give folks +5..........above that, it's a $200 ticket.

Pooka · #26 08-07-2013, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcyuhn

Texas actually seems to be reasonable about limits. Much of our rural interstates are signed at 80MPH, and the remainder is mostly 75 outside cities. Secondary highways are 70 or 75 MPH. Frankly, our limits on secondary highways are much higher than European "A" roads.

And of course we have a new toll road near Austin with an 85MPH limit. Prior to opening it last fall, the state let John Hennessey run some of his cars through to toll readers at top speed. Makes for an interesting video: Hennessey ZL1 Camaro Runs 203.9 MPH on Texas Toll Road - YouTube There are definitely some things I like about this state...

Texas has always taken a sedate view of raising speed limits. Perhaps realistic might be a better word.

When I started driving it was not unusual to see cars from the 30's and 40's still on the road as folks daily drivers. It seemed like every other person was driving a late 40's car with knee-action shocks. The speed limit was 60 in the daytime and 55 at night. With the headlights cars had then 50 at night was really pushing it.

Roads got better when them new fangled Interstates came through (I once got a ticket for doing 120!) but there were still a lot of cars around that could not deal with the higher speeds.

Time marched on and roads got better and cars got better but until they sort of caught up with each other the speed limits did not go up.

Now the DPS tracks speeds on highways not to just give out tickets but to determine just how fast people are really driving. Then they look at the average safe speed and adjust the max limit.

Several highways I drive were recently raised to 75 from 70 and from 65 to 70.

This is progress.

JB3 · #27 08-07-2013, 04:00 PM

here is an interesting pair of videos showing a 30s era limited access highway, compared to a modern highway, also regional difference.

The first is the Texas toll highway 130 featured on the above camaro video-

On this road, I think 85 definitely makes great sense as a limit, if not even faster-

Texas Toll Highway 130 North Between I-10 and Exit #458 Speed Limit 85 04/18/2013 - YouTube

However, heres a comparison road, this is highway 15 (merritt parkway) in CT, a late 30s design, despite constant straightenings and improvements, it remains a beautiful drive with no shoulders and sudden ramps. (video is sped up)

Driving east down the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut - YouTube

on this road the speed limit is 55. Now you can cruise at 70-75 all day, but if you look at 3.28 where a car gets on the highway, you can see why a 55 limit makes sense on such a road. There are a couple incidents in this video where someone getting on the highway causes some major braking

MTI · #28 08-07-2013, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

My biggest beef is the lack of enforcement of LAW. If we have a law, it should be enforced. Either that or change the law. But this willy-nilly, random enforcement hurts all of us. I know we can be targeted for doing exactly the same as even the police do in their routine driving. We are supposed to have equal treatment under the law, but we don't. All animals are equal; some animals are more equal than others.
It should not be so.
I shouldn't have to worry when crossing a State line that this State allows only 2 mph over the posted limit while the other State gave 15 mph. The Law should be reasonable, and it should be enforced, equally., and cops should have to obey it, too--except when on a call.

Okay, so you would you "green light" the use of speed cameras or other technology to basically self report a traffic violation? I've always thought that a car should automatically turn on it's hazard flashers when it exceeds a set threshold, say 15 mph over the local speed limit, since obviously the driver is in an emergency situation.

elchivito · #29 08-07-2013, 04:25 PM

There are laws I don't care to obey for one reason or another. I think, therefore, they need to be "reformed".

P.C. · #30 08-07-2013, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Okay, so you would you "green light" the use of speed cameras or other technology to basically self report a traffic violation? I've always thought that a car should automatically turn on it's hazard flashers when it exceeds a set threshold, say 15 mph over the local speed limit, since obviously the driver is in an emergency situation.

With the way some people drive, the hazards should come on automatically when the shift lever is moved to "D"...